To build the Vista system, begin by opening the case. This Just4PC ATX mid tower case included its own 425-watt power supply. Also inside the case were the power cord and screws for attaching required components.

Once the heatsink compound is applied, install the CPU cooling fan according to the manufacturer's directions. In this case, the fan attaches to clips mounted to the motherboard and is tightened by flipping the lever (on the left) to the closed position. Once the cooling fan is locked in place, attach its power cord to the motherboard's CPU fan power outlet.

Carefully swing the case around for the next step, in which decorative plates must be removed from the front of the case. The first slot is removed to make room for swappable hard disk trays; the second slot is removed to accommodate the DVD burner.

An easy step to forget, ensure that you lock the mobile rack after inserting the tray containing the hard disk. If you forget to lock the drive, odds are the disk won't receive power or be recognized by the system upon booting.

Organize remaining power connectors for such items as the LED that displays hard disk activity and the reset switch. The outlets for these plugs are typically labeled on the motherboard, and the motherboard's documentation should provide further information for making these connections.

Connect the remaining power connections. Typically, almost all of the items (power switch, reset button, hard disk activity light, etc.) accessed from a PC's front face plug into the same general area of the motherboard.

Connect the data cable for the DVD drive next. Use the ribbon cable with the header-pin connector provided by the motherboard manufacturer. Insert the data cable in the motherboard's IDE1 or IDE2 slot.

Total cost? Less than $500. The receipt shown here included an additional $31 for tools that were purchased on the same order. Add in an additional $105 total for the DVD, floppy and SATA drives, subtract $75 in ever-present and actual rebates, and you're left with a final real-world cost of $456.

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Connect the data cable for the DVD drive next. Use the ribbon cable with the header-pin connector provided by the motherboard manufacturer. Insert the data cable in the motherboard's IDE1 or IDE2 slot.

About Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...

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Bill Detwiler has nothing to disclose. He doesn't hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Full Bio

Bill Detwiler is Managing Editor of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop support specialist in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.